Adventure in Uganda and Rwanda: safaris, primates and great lakes

Located halfway between Kampala and Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Sanctuary is a must-stop for travelers on this route.

In Kampala, the bustling capital, you will be struck by the blend of styles: colonial heritage intertwines with local cultures, creating a unique urban landscape where mosques and cathedrals coexist in perfect harmony. Most visitors then stop at Ziwa to observe these impressive rhinoceroses up close.

In the afternoon, you will set out on foot with professional trackers in search of rhinoceroses across the vast savanna plains. After receiving essential safety briefings, you will be guided through the sanctuary's ecosystem to approach the animals in their natural environment. This discreet and respectful encounter promises a deeply moving experience.

During the walk, you will also discover the richness of local flora and fauna. Ziwa Sanctuary is home to over 250 bird species, which the rangers will help you observe and identify. An authentic and privileged immersion at the heart of nature.

Dinner and overnight at Amuka Lodge

After breakfast, you will set off on a guided walk in search of the famous shoebill stork, as well as many other bird species present in the region.

Following this birdwatching visit, you will head towards the Murchison Falls National Park, located at the northern tip of the Albertine Rift. Lunch at the lodge.

The afternoon will be devoted to a safari in the heart of this emblematic park, renowned for its impressive waterfalls and exceptional wildlife. You will be able to observe elephants, buffalo, warthogs, ibis, lions, hippopotamuses, crocodiles and many other animals, notably along the watercourses. Discovered in 1864, this park is home today to the country's greatest biodiversity as well as the largest number of African mammals. Crossed by the Nile, it offers a striking panorama of the African savanna and bush.

Dinner and night at Murchison River Lodge – tent with thatched roof.

At the exit of the park, a narrow track leads you through the papyrus of the vast delta to the fishing village of Wanseko. Here, life follows the rhythm of the catch, in a maze of channels whose course varies according to winds and floods. Water is omnipresent, and the local market bustles with an astonishing diversity of goods, often sold by smugglers from Congo. Fish, tilapia and captain fish, are smoked on large racks.

The western branch of the Rift is occupied by the Lake Albert towards its coastal fringe. You will encounter herds of zebu kept by Alur pastors, recognizable by their bearing, while the women cultivate cassava, cotton and maintain the thatched roofs of their traditional huts.

At Butiaba, a former active port, a narrow strip of land lined with borassus palms extends into the warm waters of the lake. A peaceful and enchanting site. The road then climbs the steep cliff of the Rift, crosses an agricultural region and leads you to the Kabwoya reserve.

Dinner and night at Lake Albert Lodge.

Created in 2002, the Lake Albert reserve is home to buffalo, hippopotamuses, Uganda kob, warthogs and numerous species of monkeys. Although wildlife is present there, it is above all the landscapes that captivate visitors. This stop is a pleasant detour for those traveling between Murchison Falls park and Kibale forest. A walk will allow you to discover the shores of Lake Albert on foot.

The day continues with the crossing of rural Uganda, along a winding laterite track between Hoima and Fort Portal. You will traverse a region of highland plateaus cut through by deep valleys, where rivers transform into swamps. Numerous villages dot the route, serving as exchange points for farmers transporting their harvests on foot. This region lives essentially from agriculture and livestock.

Further south, vast tea plantations extend as far as the eye can see. After Kyanjojo, the terrain becomes more rugged, announcing the foothills of the Rwenzori massif. If the sky is clear, you may glimpse the snow-capped peaks. Arrival at the end of the day at the edges of Kibale forest.

Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.

You will join today the Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in the heart of the Rift. This remarkable park encompasses Lake Edward and Lake George, connected by the natural canal of Kazinga, which you will explore during a cruise.

Between extinct volcanoes, crater lakes, marshes and vast grassy plains, the diversity of landscapes creates great ecological richness. More than 500 bird species are recorded there, which you will have the opportunity to observe along the canal, where buffalo and elephants come to drink. On the hills covered with candelabra euphorbias, you may also encounter Ugandan kobs, Uganda kobs and hylocheres.

Dinner and overnight at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge.

You are leaving today the Mweya peninsula to join the Ishasha sector, famous for its lions that rest in the trees, a rare behavior and emblematic of this region.

In the vast plains of the Kigezi mountain range and the Lake Edward marshes, you will be able to observe a high concentration of wild animals: large herds of Uganda kobs, topis, buffalo, but also elephants and many bird species.

Dinner and night at Enjojo lodge.

The day begins with a wildlife observation tour in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, ideal for catching one last glimpse of savanna wildlife.

You will then travel towards the Bwindi National Park. Along the way, you will cross rolling landscapes where bare grass-covered hills are roamed by herds of Banyaankole herders. The steep-sided valleys shelter dense plantations mixing banana and coffee plants.

Dinner and night at Rushaga Gorilla Camp – standard room.

Leaving Bwindi, you will traverse spectacular landscapes with infinite shades of green: the bluish-green of eucalyptus trees that mark the plots, the dark green of cypress trees bordering the trails, and the tender green of rice fields nestled at the bottom of narrow valleys.

Along the dusty track, a breathtaking view opens before you of the majestic chain of volcanoes. At Kisoro, the lava road branches off toward the Rwandan border. You will continue toward Lake Kivu and spend the night in Gisenyi, in a hotel with a view of the lake.

Dinner and night at Palm Beach.

You will enjoy the morning on the shores of Lake Kivu before heading to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda and the country's economic and administrative center. Built on several hills, Kigali has approximately one million inhabitants.

Weather permitting, a city tour is planned, including the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Center and a stop for souvenir shopping in local supermarkets.

Transfer to the airport at the end of the day for your return flight.